WALTHAM -- Two men indicted and charged in connection with the murder of Waltham teen Tyler Zanco pleaded not guilty in Middlesex Superior Court Wednesday and one claims he's a victim.

Domingo Mendes, of Belmont, is charged with murder, carrying a firearm, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Mendes, wearing a gray T-shirt, pleaded not guilty to all charges and was ordered held without bail without any dispute from his lawyer.

Poulin, wearing a buttoned-down black collared shirt, pleaded not guilty to nine charges. His lawyer, Drew Segadelli, argued against the state's proposal to set bail at $500,000, saying Poulin was the victim in the set-up drug deal that ultimately resulted in the death of Zanco.

According to an affidavit in support of Poulin and Mendes' arrests in the days following Zanco's death, police allege Zanco and two friends had planned to set up and rip off Poulin in retaliation for a prior incident in which Poulin cheated Zanco's cousin out of two ounces of marijuana.

Segadelli used this as the basis of his argument, saying it was actually Zanco and his friends who set Poulin up, bringing a stun gun, brass knuckles and a baseball bat to the meeting. Police suspect Zanco tazed Poulin in the head with a stun gun before the two started fighting on the ground. Mendes saw the two fighting, came over and took a black revolver out of Poulin's waistband and shot, according to the affidavit.

"He was the victim and the target," Segadelli said, proposing a bail of $5,000 accompanied with a GPS monitoring device.

David Solet, the assistant district attorney who's trying both men, pointed out that Poulin not only has a lengthy record of criminal activity in Massachusetts and Maine, but also received a 30-day committed service in Canada, making him a flight risk.

Clerk Magistrate Matt Day, who heard both cases, ordered Poulin held on $250,000 bail and in the event he posts bail, Poulin must wear a GPS monitoring device and surrender his passport.

"He has a lengthy record for someone his age," Day said.

Poulin faces charges of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, accessory after the fact, carrying a firearm, attempting to commit a crime, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to distribute a Class D substance (marijuana), two counts of possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance (marijuana) and a park zone violation.

About two dozen relatives of Zanco came to Woburn and watched silently as the two men were arraigned. Dan Cence, a family spokesman, said the family was there in solidarity.

Page 2 of 2 - "They're trying to be strong," Cence said. "They understand that it's going to be a long, arduous process and they're doing the best they can."